Inclined current hydraulic separator



June 21,- 1949.

Filed Feb. 25, 1947 'F. C. MORTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A I 4a n 1 54 h lly l 15 3 4 2 17 INVENTOR Freden'c]; C. Marion, v m

' ATTORNEY June 21, 1949.

F. c. MORTON INCLINED CURRENT HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1947 4 INVENTOR Fredenckc. 0rf012,

B-Y W 2 ATTORNEY F. C. MORTON INCLINED CURRENT HYDRAULIC SEPARATOB.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 21, 1949.

Filed Feb. 25. 1947 3 INVEN TOR Frederzc'kd r2012, 14 By M,

ATTORNEY June 21, 1949. MORTON INCLINED CURRENT HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25. 1947 INVENTOR FrederJcK C. 01700, BY 2 ATTORNEY June 21, 1949. 1F; "c. MORTON 2,474,059

INCLINED CURRENT HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Frederic/ C rrfon,

ATTORNEY IN VEN TOR vide apparatus which is Patented June 21, 1949 INCLINED CURRENT HYDRAULIC SEPARAT OR Frederick C. Morton, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application February 25, 1947, Serial No.

13 Claims.

In many industrial Operations, mining, dredging, and manufacturing, granular materials of heterogeneous content (1. e. mineral, metallic, or both) are recovered or produced, the constituents being free or unattached and differing as to nature, composition or other characteristics. Examples are granular materials obtained from aggregates containing valuable constituents such as gold, copper, zinc, iron, silver and the like, mixed with worthless gangue, i. e., sand, gravel or other granular detritus; and phosphatic material, i. e., pebbles and fines, either or both, mixed with worthless sand and gravel.

This invention relates to apparatus for eiiecting the separation of such granular materials whereby valuable homogenous constituents may be separately recovered and other constituents, differing in nature, composition, or other characteristic, and of little or no value, may be separately discharged. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the diiferences by which the constituents are distinguished from one another also involve pronounced differences in their specific gravities, or, in cases where the constituents may be qualitatively similar, pronounced difierences in weight as between the fines and the oversize.

The principal object of the invention is to proapplicable to a wide range of granular materials obtained from aggregates or otherwise derived; is highly economical as to installation, maintenance and operation; accomplishes the rapid and efficient separation of constituents of one kind from constituents of a different kind, that is to say, a separation wherein the constituents of each kind are substantially free of the constituents of the other kind, such a separation being accomplished without the complication of screens and associated screen operating mechanism and, necessity of further treatment of the valuable constituent for the elimination of foreign material; wherein the exact quality of the separation may at any time be determined and regulated as the operation proceeds; and wherein provision is made for quickly, easily and accurately regulating the separating action in accordance with the environment and circumstances of use and the particular granular material to be processed.

In general, the apparatus of gravity in opposition to a current provides for the use of fluid medium, commonly water, in which the granular material is suspended and by which it is jetted as a column along a determined upwardly inclined in most cases, avoiding the path of suitable extent and direction, the fluid medium having a critical velocity, 1. e. a velocity such that within a substantially definite zone of the path gravity will effect the separation from the jetted column of granular material of the homogeneous constituents of greater specific gravity or otherwise of greater weight and the separate discharge of such constituents from the current of fluid medium while the remaining constituents are carried upward by the current to a separate and relatively remote point of discharge. In the cases of certain granular materials the constituents of greater specific gravity or greater weight will be the valuable ones; in other cases the lighter fines will be the con-- stituents of value.

The invention consists generally in sundry novel features of construction and combination pertaining to apparatus having the above described operatin characteristics.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 isv a detail vertical sectional view showing the bucket conveyers of the system by which the separated phosphate pebbles and fines are transferred to their points of ultimate discharge.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the upwardy inclined shaft through which is forced the current of water which carries the constituents to be separated.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Figure I, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of a portion of the inner face of the under inclined wall of the shaft.

Figure 8 is a detail vertical section of a portion of the wall shown in Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the bucket arrangement of the conveyers shown in Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a partial side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of the apparatus showing the addition thereto, optional in accordance with circumstances, of an auxiliary shaft provided to aidin the effective preliminary separation of worthless sand and gravel.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 10.

The invention is illustrated and described, by way of example, in connection with dredge-borne apparatus for the separation of phosphate pebbles and phosphate fines, either or both, as the constituents of value, from the sand and gravel constituents of the aggregate in which such pebbles and fines are included. The dredge (not shown), in accordance with the usual practice, floats in a pond.

The material of the aggregate is loosened from the bank of the pond by the usual giant nozzle (not shown) and, as loosened, its constituents are freed from one another. The transfer of the loosened granular material to the separating apparatus is effected by a suitable rotary pump I having an inlet pipe 2 and a discharge pipe 3. The pipe 2 is connected at its free end to the usual collecting or gathering device (not shown) which may be of any suitable construction and which operates along the bed of the pond to direct the loosened granular material into the pipe 2. The discharge pipe 3 may be provided with a valve 4 of any suitable construction by which the velocity of the fiow of water from the pump may be regulated as circumstances may require.

The pipe 3 conducts the water and the column of granular material from the pump to the separating apparatus, the active element of which is a hollow casing or shaft 5 which is of suitable vertical and cross sectional extent for the purposes in view and may be open or closed at its upper end, according to the circumstances of use and the particular material being processed. In the drawing it is assumed that the shaft 5 is open at its upper end. The pipe 3 is upwardly directed and at its upper end is connected, as at 6, to the lower end of the shaft 5 with which it communicates through an opening 3a.

The shaft 5 is preferably inclined at a suitable angle to the vertical or perpendicular, this angle, in the construction shown, being of the order of although with respect to various adaptations of the invention for the treatment of different granular materials it may be varied, according to circumstances, within a general range of from 10 to The arrangement of the shaft 5 at an inclination to the vertical, or with its rear wall at an inclination to the vertical, is preferred in that, comparatively speaking, it expedites the separating action which is effected within said shaft.

As shown and preferred the shaft is rectangular in cross section and has an inclined front wall I, an inclined rear or under wall 8 and side -walls 9 extending between the walls I and 8.

The wall 7 is preferably formed in its lower portion with an outwardly bowed section II of curved outline between its upper and lower ends, its lower end being formed to provide an element of the connection 6. The .section i0 is inwardly and downwardly inclined in its lower portion and curved in its upper portion, the curvature terminating at a point substantially tangential to the horizontal and being of degree and extent sumcient to direct the entering column of granular material in a transverse path, the column continuing along such path for a suitable extent as determined by the velocity of the current adjacent the inner face of the bowed section Ill. The pump outlet pipe 3 is preferably of curvature reverse to that of the section II] whereby the current of water and the suspended column of granular material will travel from the pump to the shaft in an ogee path of suitable extent and regularity.

In different phosphate beds wide variations as to the sizes of the phosphate material may be medium flowing,

ing in size from normal to extremely small ones.

is assumed that the bed inpercentages of fines and In the drawings it cludes substantial pebbles of all sizes.

The phosphate pebbles and a percentage of the fines separated within the shaft 5 and escaping from its lower end are carried away by a conveyer II which may be of any suitable construction and arrangement in connection with which a separate current of liquid medium is forced upwardly into the lower end of the shaft, the escaping pebbles and fines falling through this current. The conveyer is shown, by way of example, as an endless bucket conveyor which operates within a casing or shaft I3 connected at its upper end to a discharge pipe I2. A pipe I4, preferably of ogee outline, connects the lower ends of the shafts 5 and I3, and is joined at I5 to the lower end of the shaft 5 with which it communicates through an opening I5a and at It to a forwardly projecting chamber I'I near the lower end of, and communicating, with the shaft I3. The bottom Ma of the shaft 5 extends between elements of the pipe connections 6 and I5 and is preferably of inverted V-shape as shown in Figure 4 in order to provide an effective partition between the two currents of liquid under pressure, into the lower end of the shaft 5.

The shaft I3 has the upper portion of its inner or rear wall formed to provide an offset chamber I3a provided at its lower end with a downwardly extending outlet section I8 to which the upper end of the pipe I2 is connected as at I 9. The outlet section I8 is located suitably below the upper end of the conveyer II and provides, ineffect, an open ended pocket by means of which the pebbles and fines falling from the conveyer are intercepted and directed into the pipe I'2.

Water from any suitable source is delivered into the shaft I3 by a pipe 20, preferably having a valve 2| for regulating the rate of flow. The vertical extent of the shaft I3 is substantially greater than the vertical extent of the shaft 5. The volume of water admitted to the shaft I3 is such that at all times during the operation of the apparatus the shaft I3 is filled to a level which is suitably elevated relatively to the upper end of the shaft 5 but is below the point at which the outlet section I8 projects. This column of water of course flows downward through the shaft I3 and upward through the pipe I4 into the lower end of the shaft 5 in which its upward movement continues to the water level line. The pipe I4 is preferably equipped with a valve 22 by which the velocity of the water flowing into the shaft 5 from the shaft I3 may be regulated as circumstances may require.

The conveyer II consists of parallel chains 23 operating over upper and lower sprockets 24 mounted on shafts 25, the upper shaft 25 being driven by any suitable means (not shown) and being fitted in bearings which may be adjustably positioned by any suitable or conventional chain tightening device 26. The chains 23 support transverse buckets 2! having their lower portions formed with perforations through which the water of the downwardly flowing column may freely pass during the upward movement of the buckets, thereby to minimize the resistance of the water to such movement, the perforations also providing for the drainage of water from the buckets when they move upward above the water level line of the shaft I3. The shaft i3 is provided at its lower end with a boot 28 having a curvature generally concentric to the peripheries of the lower sprockets 24 and having its front edge in adjacency to the lower edge of the offset chamber H.

A percentage of the phosphate fines, namely those of extreme smallness or of fiat shape, will ascend to a substantially higher elevation in the shaft 5 than the pebbles and others of the fines. In order to expedite the separating operation, with a consequent increase of capacity, these ascending fines may separately be recovered at a higher point in the shaft 5. For this purpose a casing or shaft 29 is provided, which is similar in construction to the shaft l3 but is of suitably smaller capacity and extends to a suitably higher elevation above the shaft 5. The shaft 29 encloses a suitable conveyer 30 which may be similar in construction and arrangement to the conveyer l I. Water is supplied to the shaft 29 by a branch 3! leading from the pipe 29 and provided with a Valve 32 for regulating the rate of flow. The shaft 29 has the upper portion of its inner or rear wall formed to provide an offset chamber 29a having at its lower end a downwardly extending outlet section 33 to which a downwardly inclined discharge pipe 34 is connected as at 35.

For cooperation with the shaft 29 the inclined rear or under wall 8 of the shaft 5 has its upper portion offset as at 36 to provide in effect a pocket for the interception of the ascending fines. The base 31 of the pocket by which the offset portion 36 is connected to the remaining part of the wall 8 is formed with a discharge opening 31a (Figure 4). The shaft 29 is provided near its lower end with a forwardly projecting chamber 38, structurally and functionally similar to the chamber H of the shaft l3. The chamber 38 is connected by an upwardly extending pipe 39 to the base 31, the pipe 39 being preferably upwardly tapering and connected to the base 31 as at 40 and to the chamber 38 as at 41. The pipe 39 is preferably provided with a valve 42 by which the velocity of the water flowing into the shaft 5 from the shaft 29 may be regulated as circumstances may require.

At all times during the operation of the apparatus the shaft 29 contains a column of water,

the level of which is suitably elevated relatively to the upper end of the shaft 5 but is below the point at which the outlet section 33 projects from the inner or rear wall of the shaft 29. This column of water of course fiows downard through the shaft 29 and upward through the pipe 39 into the shaft 5 in which its upward movement continues to the water level line.

It will be noted that the column of water flowing through the shaft 5 is made up of components from the pipes 3, l4 and 39. At the water level line of the shaft 5 the separation of the phosphate pebbles and fines from the worthless sand and gravel has been completed. The water and the suspended sand and gravel escape from the shaft 5 to a downwardly inclined chute or pipe 43 by which they are returned to the pond. The shaft 5 may be connected to the pipe 43 in any suitable manner and is preferably provided adjacent its front wall and at its upper end with a trough-like extension 44 having a flange at one end to which the pipe 43 is connected as at 45. Along its outer side the extension 44 projects suitably above the water level line of the shaft 5 and along its inner side adjoins and is connected to the upper edge of the wall 1 which is located suitably below the water level line of the shaft 5 in order that the water and the suspended sand and gravel may spill from the shaft 5 into the extension 44 and pass thence into and through the pipe 43.

The velocity of the current of water flowing through the shaft 5 is in all cases sufiicient to carry the worthless sand and gravel to the water level line with resultant discharge from the shaft 5 in the manner explained; but, because of their greater specific gravity and. weight, is not sufficient to carry the phosphate pebbles and fines to the level line. Consequently within a zone of the path of the upward travel of the column of granular material in the shaft 5 the phosphate pebbles and a percentage of the fines begin to fall by gravity through the ascending column of water and at a higher point in such travel the extremely small fines and those of flat or flake shape similarly begin to fall.

In their descent the phosphate pebbles and fines tend to approach the inclined wall 8 of the shaft 5, entering the zone adjacent the wall 8 in which the current of water is of somewhat diminished velocity. Some of the pebbles and fines impinge upon the wall 8 and others impinge upon the confronting and oppositely inclined wall of the bottom Ma. The wall 8 and the bottom l4a cooperate in directing the falling pebbles and fines toward the opening I511 whence they pass through the pipe 14 and chamber l1 into the lower end of the shaft l3. The pebbles, as they accumulate on the boot 28 of the shaft 13, are scooped up by the buckets 21 which, at the beginning of the return flight, discharge them into the pocket provided by the outlet section I8 and the offset chamber l3a, the pebbles then moving by gravity through the pipe l2 to their ultimate point of discharge (not shown), e. g., a suitable bin on the dredge or a vehicle located near the bank of the pond.

The phosphate fines which commence their descent at a higher elevation similarly tend to approach, and in some cases, to impinge on the upper offset portion 36 of the wall 8 by which, falling through the zone of diminished current velocity, they are directed toward the base 31 of the pocket provided by said offset portion. These fines pass through the opening 31a and the pipe 39 into the lower end of' the shaft 29 through which they are carried by the conveyer 39 and discharged into the outlet section 33, passing thence through the pipe 34 to an ultimate point of discharge (not shown). These fines may be discharged into the same bin or vehicle that receives the pebbles and the remaining fines or they may be discharged into a separate bin or vehicle, according to preference.

The column of water which surges upward through the pipe 14 and into the shaft 5 acts with scrubbing effect upon the falling phosphate pebbles and fines, cleaning them of any adhering particles of sand and carrying such sand particles back into the shaft 5 in a direction approaching the axial center of said shaft where they are swept by the main current to the water level line. This scrubbing action takes place both within the pipe and for some distance of the travel of the column of water within the shaft. Thus the phosphate pebbles and fines as they accumulate upon the boot 28 are substantially free of adhering particles of sand.

In like manner the phosphate fines falling through the pipe 39 are scrubbed by the column .41 with which the spaces between adjacent riffles communicate. Certain of the riflles may project into the channel 41. The purpose of the riflies is to interrupt the downward travel of the finer solids which may impinge upon the wall 8 or offset 35, thereby to bounce, so to speak, any lighter particles of sand back into the ascending water current and to trap the finer phosphate particles (pebbles or fines) and direct them into the channel 4'! in which their descent continues. The extension of certain of the riflles into the channel 41 is for a like purpose with reference to any particles of sand that may perchance have entered said channel. The riffles thus substantially insure that the water current will catch and carry away all sand that may trail in the wake of the smaller phosphate pebbles or the phosphate fines.

The cross sectional area of the shaft 5 is such that the velocity of the current within it is substantially the same as the velocity of the current within the pipe I4 (of the order of 25 feet per minute in the embodiment and example disclosed), is preferably slightly greater than the velocity (of the order of 22 feet per minute) of the current within the pipe 39 and is substantially less than the velocity (of the order of 400 feet per minute) of the current within the pipe 3. As pointed out the mean velocity of the current in the shaft 5 is sufiicient for carrying the waste sand and gravel to the water level line but is not sufficient to carry the phosphate pebbles and fines to such extent whereby the pebbles and fines fall from the ascending column of granular material at points suitably below the water level line.

Advantages in respect to a reduction in the length of the shaft 5 (and hence in the lengths of the shafts l3 and 29 and the endless conveyer equipment) and to expediting the separating action and hence increasing the capacity of the. apparatus are gained by a limitation of the extent to which the phosphate pebbles and fines may be carried upward to the water current and by giving them an initial impetus in a direction away from the path of the ascending column of granular material. These characteristics are imposed by the bowed section If! in the lower portion of the front wall I. By virtue of the curvature of the upper portion of this bowed section the column of granular material is jetted into the main body of the shaft in a transverse path. Thus the phosphate pebbles and the phosphate fines upon entering the shaft 5 travel in a path athwart the current instead of with it. This direction of movement of the phosphate pebbles and fines augments their resistance to the force of the upward sweep of the current and thus causes their separation from the column of granular material at earlier points in the ascent of the current than would be the case if the bowed portion I 0 were not employed. Generally speaking the phosphate pebbles travel in a path across the current of water for half or less of the distance between walls 1 and 8 whereupon they commence their descent, as is clearly shown in Figure 4. Although the resistance of the phosphate fines to the force of the upward sweep of the current is similarly augmented, thereby to effect a relative lowering of the point at which the phosphate fines commence their descent from the upwardly moving column of granular material, certain of the phosphate fines nevertheless are swept upward by the water current from the transverse path along which they were projected when entering the shaft 5, thus being separated from the phosphate pebbles and remaining fines at a higher point where, by preference, they are separately trapped and discharged, all as above explained.

The operation of the apparatus is in charge of an attendant who, by adjustment of the several valves, suitably regulates the velocity of the water at the points where it enters the shaft 5. The effectiveness of the separation, quantitatively and qualitatively, may at all times be determined by visual inspection of the water and the granular material within the shaft 5. For such purpose either or both of the side walls 9 may be equipped with suitably located openings for windows 48, 59, 5G and 5! constituted by sheets of transparent material. The window 48 is located to permit inspection of the water and granular material as it enters the shaft 5 from the pipe 3 and also permits inspection of the falling phosphate pebbles as they aproach the pipe It. The window 49 is located to permit inspection of the phosphate pebbles and fines at the points where their fall from the column of granular material commences, thereby to determine the effectiveness of the separation of the phosphate pebbles and fines and the upsweep of the rest of the column of granular material. The window 50 is located to permit inspection of the remaining fines as they move toward the discharge opening 37a, thereby to determine the effectiveness of their separation from the ascending column of granular material. The window 5| is located to permit inspection adjacent the water level line, thereby to determine the composition of the granular material at the top of the shafts and the effectiveness of its discharge. It is also of advantage to provide a window 52 in the upper portion of the pipe l4, thereby to permit inspection of the phosphate pebbles in their passage through the pipe and the determination of whether the water flowing upward through the pipe has the proper velocity and is effectively discharging the scrubbing function.

By inspection in immediate succession at the several windows the quality of the action at any one point may be checked and verified by determination of the quality of the action at another point. Such inspections and determinations serve as a guide for the attainment at any time of the most effective results, qualtitatively, by appropriate setting of any or all of the valves.

Where an aggregate contains an unusually large percentage of light weight particles, waste or valuable or both, it is of advantage to make a preliminary separation of such particles prior to the introduction of the column of granular material into the shaft 5. In the example described it is assumed that the light weight particles are waste sand. The added equipment for this purpose is shown in Figures 10 and 11 and consists essentially of a vertical auxiliary shaft 53 interposed between the pump 1 and the shaft 5. The shaft 53 has an enlarged lower portion 54, the front wall 55 of which is outwardly bowed and of general semicircular outline, The upper edge of the bowed wall portion 55 adjoins the straight lower portion of the wall 53 at a point coincidental with or, preferably, slightly beyond a horizontal tangent. The rear 'or inner shaft of the shaft 53 is slightly bowed in its lower portion as at 56, the bowed wall portions 55 and 55 being in opposing relation. The curvature of the wall portion 56 conforms generally to the curvature of the wall portion 55 and is about the same radial center. Thus the wall portions 55 and 56 form a circular guide for the column of granular material entering the enlarged portion 54 from the pipe 58, this guide being interrupted at the lower end of the straight portion of the shaft 53. The shaft 53 has a downward and inward extension 51 beyond the enlarged portion 54, which is in communication with the pipe 58 from the pump l and is connected to the pipe as at 59, The pipe 58 is preferably equipped with a valve 6 3 by which the velocity of the flow water from the pump may be regulated as circumstances may require.

The enlarged portion 54 is provided at its lower end and adjacent its inner wall with an upwardly directed discharge section 6l in communication with a discharge opening 10 in the bottom of the enlarged portion 54. The section extends at a general right angle to the inlet extension 51 and is connected by a pipe 52 to the inlet fitting at the lower end of the shaft 5, the extension 51 and the pipe 52 being of suitably reduced cross sectional area as compared with that of the pipe 58. The adjoining walls of the section 61 and the inlet extension 51 meet to form a ridge B3 of general V-shaped outline as shown in Figure 10, the ridge extending internally of the enlarged portion 54 and providing an' effective partition between the column of granular material which enters the enlarged portion 54 from the pump and the column which is discharged from the enlarged portion through the section 5 I. The bowed wall portion 56 and the adjoining wall of the section 6| meet to form a ridge 640i general V'- shaped outline as shown in Figure 10, the ridge 64 extending internally of the enlarged portion 54 and providing an effective partition between the column of granular material descending adjacent the wall portion 56 and the column of granular material moving upward through the section 5|.

The shaft 53 may be open or closed at its upper end, an open upper end being assumed. Adjacent its upper end the shaft is provided a troughlike extension 65 similar to the extension 44 of the shaft 5. The extension 65 is similarly connected to a downwardly inclined chute or pipe 66 by which the water and waste sand from the shaft 55 may be returned to the pond. In order to regulate the velocity of the water which flows through the shaft 53, and thereby to regulate the velocity of the water which flows through the section BI and pipe'62 into the shaft 5, the shaft 53 is provided at a suitable point with a regulating valve 61.

The column of granular material entering the enlarged portion 54 of the shaft 53 is directed by wall portion .55 in a path, preferably slightly downward, extending across the lower end of the straight portion of the shaft 53 and toward the wall portion 56. The phosphate pebbles and fines and the gravel and some of the'waste sand move downwardly in the path prescribed by the wall portion 56 into the discharge opening 10 from which the section 6| projects and will be carried by the current of water flowing through said section and the pipe 32 into the shaft 5 where the separation action previously described takes place. However a substantial percentage of the waste sand, particularly the finer sand, will be carried upwardly into and through the straight portion of the shaft 53 and will be discharged at the upper end of said shaft into the trough 54 whence it passes through the pipe '65. The preliminary separation of sand by means of theshaft 53 expedites the separating action within the shaf 5and also promotes its efficiency.

In order that the action Within the shaft 53 may at any time be inspected and its quality determined the enlarged portion 54 is preferably provided with a Window 68 and the straight portion of the shaft is preferably provided. near its lower end with a- Window 69. The window 58 is so located as to permit the inspection of the column of granular material as it moves across the lower end of the straight portion of the shaft and also as it enters the section 6|. The window 69 is so located as to permit the inspection of the water current and column of sand ascending in the straight portion of the shaft 53. The inspections and determinations serve as a guide for the appropriate setting of the valves El] and 51.

When the use of the shaft 53 is not required it may be removed by disconnecting the pipe 52 from the shaft 5 and the pipe 58 from the pump whereupon the pump may be connected directly to the shaft 5 by the pipe 3 as shown in Figure 1.

As herein shown the opening 3a adjoins the front wall of the shaft 5 and the opening l5d adjoins the rear wall. It will however be understood that the invention contemplates any arrangement of bottom openings, that is to say openings in or adjacent the bottom of the shaft 5, which will carry out the essential operational features of separate currents of fluid or liquid medium forced under pressure into the shaft at separate locations, one current carrying the column of granular material to be separated and the second current entering at the outlet for the descending constituents of greater specific gravity or weight which are separated from the column, such descending constituents falling through the second current to the means by which they are carried away.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for effecting the separation of granular material composed of constituents of different specific gravity or different weight comprising an upwardly extending hollow shaft having front, rear and side walls and a bottom, the rear wall being inclined to the vertical in an outward direction from its lower to its upper end and the shaft having a bottom openin adjacent the rear wall and another bottom opening adjacent the front wall, means connected to the shaft and communicating with the bottom opening adjacent the front wall for forcing through said opening and into the shaft aliquid medium and granular material in suspension, the liquid medium filling the shaft and escaping from its upper end and the liquid medium as it enters the shaft having such velocity that it carries the granular material with it substantially as a column moving upwardly within the shaft, means operative at a point of travel of the column remote from the bottom opening through which it enters the shaft for'directing it across the shaft, means for so regulating the velocity and direction of the liquid medium that the components of the column of granular material which are of greater specific gravity or greater weight willfall from the column within the zone where- 11 in the column is directed across the shaft and as they fall will impinge upon or approach the inclined rear wall and will be directed to and through the bottom opening adjacent said re r wall whence they escape while the rem 5 components of lighter specific gravity or lighter weight will be carried by the liquid medium to the upper end of the shaft and will escape from the shaft with the liquid medium, an elevator including an upwardly extending hollow casing of greater height than the shaft and elevator mechanism enclosed within said casing, a pipe connecting the lower portion of said casing and the shaft and communicating with the bottom opening adjacent said rear wall, means for supplying a liquid medium to said casing to a constant level sufiiciently elevated above the shaft to provide a pressure head whereby the liquid medium flows from said casing through said pipe into and upwardly through the shaft, the components &

which escape through the bottom opening adjacent the said rear wall falling through said pipe into the said lower portion of the casing whence they are carried upward by the elevator mechanism and discharged above the liquid level line of said casing, means connected to the upper portion of said casing for carrying away the components discharged by said elevator mecha nism and means connected to the upper end of the shaft for carrying away the components of less specific gravity or less weight.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a second elevator is provided which includes an upwardly extending hollow casing of greater height than the shaft and elevator mechanism enclosed within said casing, a pipe connects the lower portion of said casing to the rear wall of the shaft at an elevated point and communicates with the interior of the shaft, means is provided for supplying a liquid medium to said second casing to a constant level suiflciently elevated above the shaft to provide a pressure head whereby the liquid medium flows from said casing through said pipe and upwardly through the shaft, the shaft is formed to direct into said pipe the particles of greater specific gravity or greater weight which are carried by the current within the shaft to a point above the point of communication of said pipe with the shaft, the particles passing through said pipe into the casing and being carried upward by the elevator mechanism and discharged above the liquid level line of said casing, and means is connected to the upper portion of said casing for carrying away the components discharged by said elevator mechanism.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front wall of the shaft is formed in its lower portion with an outwardly bowed section of curved outline between its upper and lower ends, the curvature at the upper end terminating at a point substantially tangential to the horizontal and being of degree and extent to direct the column of granular material entering the shaft from said liquid medium forcing means in an initial transverse path extending to a point approximately midway between the front and rear walls of the shaft, said section terminating at its lower end adjacent the bottom opening with which said liquid forcing means communicates.

4. Apparatus for efiecting the separation of granular material composed of constituents of different specific gravity or weight, comprising an upwardly extending hollow separating shaft having its rear wall inclined to the vertical in 1 suspension therein, the fluid medium filling the shaft and flowing upwardly through it and escaping from its upper end and the fluid medium as it enters the shaft having such velocity that it carries the granular material with it substantially as a column moving upwardly within the shaft, means operative at a point of the travel of the column remote from the bottom opening through which it enters the shaft for directing it across the shaft, means for so regulating the velocity and direction of the fluid medium that the components of the column of granular material which are of greater specific gravity or weight will pass outwardly from the column within the zone wherein the column is directed across the shaft and will fall toward the inclined rear wall and escape through the bottom opening which adjoins the rear wall while the remaining components of lighter specific gravity or weight will be carried by the fluid medium to the upper end of the shaft and will escape from the shaft with the fluid medium as it discharges from the upper end of the shaft, a pipe extending downward from the shaft and communicating with the bottom opening adjacent the rear wall of the shaft, and means connected to said pipe for delivering into the shaft a separate upwardly directed current of fluid medium which merges flows upward with the fluid medium admitted through the opening adjacent the front wall of the shaft, the escaping components of greater specific gravity or weight falling through the fluid member flowing upward in the pipe.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the bottom of the shaft is provided with an up wardly directed partition between the two bottom openings and the two streams of fluid medium entering the shaft through the respective bottom openings.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means operative to direct the column of granular material across the shaft comprises an outwardly bowed section of curved outline formed in the front wall of the shaft between its upper and lower ends and which terminates at its lower end adjacent the bottom opening through which the granular material is carried into the shaft, the means connected to the shaft being so arranged as to direct the granular material initially in a path adjacent and conforming to the curved outline of the section, the curvature of the section at its upper end terminating at a point substantially tangential to the horizontal and being of degree and extent to direct the column of granular material in a path transverse to the shaft and extending to a point approximately mid-way between the front and rear walls of the shaft.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the rear wall of the shaft is provided on its inner face with narrow and shallow riffles of general transverse extent, the riifles serving to trap the particles of greater specific gravity or weight and being arranged to provide .a channel along said rear wall along which said particles'may descend.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the rear wall-of theshaft has-its upper portion outwardly off-set to provide a pocket for the interception of particles. of heavier specific gravity or weight, the base of the pocket having --a discharge opening for said particles, a second pipe is-connected to and extends downwardly from said base and communicates with the shaft through the opening in the pocket of the base, and means is. provided for forcing a fluid medium through said second pipe upwardly into the shaft, the fluid medium admitted "by said second pipe merging and flowing upward with the fluid medium admittedthrough the. opening adjacent the front wall of the shaft, the components of greater specific gravity or weight intercepted by the pocket falling through the fluid medium flowing upward in the second pipe.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim a wherein a hollow .vertical auxiliarycshaft is interposed between the fluid mediur forcing means and the first named shaft and has bottom openings, one of which is in communication with the fluid medium forcing means and the other of which is in communication with the pipe leading to the opening 'of said first named shaft which adjoins its front wall, the auxiliary shaft having an enlarged lower portion formed to cause the column of granular material which enters it from said fluid medium forcing means to travel in a substantially circular path directed toward the bottom opening which is in communication with said first named shaft whereby a substantial percentage of finely divided light material will be separated from said column and will be carried by the current to the upper end of said auxiliary shaft.

10. Apparatus for effecting the separation of granular material composed of constituents of different specific gravity or different weight comprising an upwardly extending hollow shaft having front, rear and side walls and a bottom, the rear wall being inclined to the vertical in an outward direction from its lower to its upper end. and the shaft having a bottom opening adjacent the rear wall and another bottom opening adjacent the front wall, means connected to the shaft and communicating with the bottom opening adjacent the front wall for forcing through said opening and into the shaft a liquid medium and granular material in suspension, the liquid medium filling the shaft and escaping from its upper end and the liquid medium as it enters the shaft having such velocity that it carries the granular material with it substantially as a column moving upwardly within the shaft, means operative at a point of travel of the column remote from the bottom opening through which it enters the shaft for directing it across the shaft, means for so regulating the velocity and direction of the liquid medium that the components of the column of granular material which are of greater specific gravity or greater weight will fall from the column within the zone wherein. the column is directed across the shaft and as they fall will impinge upon or approach the inclined rear wall and will be directed to and through the bottom opening adjacent said rear wall whence they escape while the remaining components of lighter specific gravity or lighter weight will be carried by the liquid medium to the upper end of the shaft and will escape from the shaft with the liquid medium, an elevator including an upwardly extending hollow casing of greater height than the shaft and elevator mechanism enclosed within said casing, a pipe connecting thellower portion of said casing-and theshaft and communicating with the bottom opening adjacent said rear-wall, meanslfor supplying a liquid medium to said casing to aconstant levelwsufficiently' elevated above the shaft to providea pressure head whereby the liquid medium flows: from said-casing through said pipe into and pwardly: through theshaft, the components iwh ich ese ape through the bottomopeningadjacent the sai'drear wall falling through saidlpipel into-thesaid lower portion ofthe casing whence they-rare xcarriedupward by theelevator mechanismand discharged-s above the liquid: level line, of saidseasing, means :connectedto the upper portion :of said casing for-carrying away the components discharged by said elevator-mecha- DlSm'EaITdLmBE-HS .connected'to the'upper end .of the-shaft for *carryingcawlay the components of lesswspecificigravity-or less weight, the rearwall of the -shaft being ,prowided on its inner face with narrow andushallow rifflesof general transverse :extent, theariffiesservingzto trap the particles of egreater :specific gravity or weight and being .aurranged to provide a channel along'said rearwallt along whicha-saidparticles may descend.

11. Apparatus for effecting the separation of granular material composed of constituents of different specific gravity or weight comprising an upwardly extending hollow separating shaft having a bottom provided with separate bottom openings, one of which adjoins the rear wall of the shaft and the other of which adjoins its front wall, means connected to the shaft and communicating with the opening which adjoins the front wall for forcing through said opening and into the shaft aliquid medium and granular material in suspension therein, the liquid medium filling the shaft and flowing upwardly through it and escaping from its upper end, and as it enters the shaft having such velocity that it carries the granular material with it substantially as a column moving upwardly within the shaft, means operative at a point of travel of the column remote from the bottom opening through which it enters the shaft for directing it across the shaft, means for so regulating the velocity and direction of the liquid medium that the components of the column of granular material which are of greater specific gravity or weight will separate by gravity from the column within the zone wherein the column is directed across the shaft and descend toward the bottom opening which adjoins the rear wall of the shaft, an elevator including an upwardly extending hollow casing of greater height than the shaft and elevator mechanism enclosed within said casing, a pipe connecting the lower portion of said casing and the shaft, communicating with the bottom opening adjacent said rear wall and extending upwardly from the lower portion of the casing to said bottom opening, and means for supplying a liquid medium to said casing to a constant level sufficiently elevated above the shaft to provide a pressure head whereby the liquid medium flows from said casing through said pipe into and upwardly through the shaft, the descending components of greater specific gravity or weight escaping through the opening adjacent the rear wall of the shaft and falling through the pipe and the column of liquid moving upwardly through the pipe and into the shaft to the elevator mechanism by which they are carried away.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the bottom of the shaft is provided with an upwardly directed partition between the two bottom openings and the two streams of liquid medium entering the shaft through the respective bottom openings.

13. Apparatus for effecting the separation of granular material composed of constituents of different specific gravity or diiferent weight comprising an upwardly extending hollow separating shaft having a bottom and separate bottom openings, means connected to the shaft and communicating with one of said openings for forcing through it and into the shaft a liquid medium and granular material in suspension therein, the liquid medium filling the shaft, escaping from its upper end, and having such velocity that it carries the granular material with it substantially as a column moving upwardly within the shaft, means operative at a point of travel of the column remote from the bottom opening through which it enters the shaft for directing it across the shaft, the velocity of the column as it is directed across the shaft being such that its components which are of greater specific gravity or weight separate from the column and descend through the liquid medium by gravity REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,215,230 Wingett Feb. 6, 1917 1,877,861 Hatch Sept. 20, 1932 2,000,181 Lessing May 7, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 131,969 Germany June 28, 1902 

